Marc-Andre Fleury not having to play 65 games, so he can bring it every night. I expect there to be a big difference in his performance, let's hope we've tightened up the D also, which can't hurt...last year we had it set to "Off", this year I'm hoping for at least "Low"...

Kunitz... is a hugh key. Remove him from Neal and Malkin line it might cost chemistry. But Sid needs a quality winger to play with. Find a guy to step it up and play with Sid or find the right guy to fill in with Malkin and Neal. Tough call.

Cooke Kennedy and Suter... Should still be a quality line maybe not as good as with Staal, but still very effective.

Byslma also needs to ste it up, saw some bad concentration by players during the playoffs last season. Keeping the team focused... Game 3 you are down 2 games to nothing and the players are trying to send a message??? Get hold of your players and get them focused. PK without Staal and Michlek... Powerplay should be in the top 3 with the players we got out there. This is where coaching is important.

-sid returning to normalcy for the first time in a couple years-cooke-sutter-tk (if this line survives the top 6 wing merry go round). 3 guys born to thrive on a 3rd line. sutter is no staal, but this line should still be able to cause some havoc.

I’m not sure I’m excited about it, but I am curious to see what Kennedy does on a line with Sutter. That line is going to be more about defense and even less about offense than it was with Staal as center, and I am concerned about Kennedy being able to be productive in that role. To me, he might be the Pen with the most tenuous grasp on a job, and perhaps the greatest candidate for a trade (along with some of our excess defensemen).

mikey287 wrote:Not a liability, no. But lacks defensive awareness (hockey sense in general), thus his entire career has a third line, even strength, worker bee...a drone.

Talk on Pens web site was he wil get a shot with Malkin and Neal. No good enough for that roll, he has a shoot first mentality, great for a 3rd liner but you got to be ready to give it to Malkin and get open or run interferience playing with that guy. That is why Kunitz is such a good fit with Sid or Geno.

I think Kennedy will eventually fall back to his 3rd lin roll and be a stand out with Sutter and Cooke.

I'd have serious concerns about our coaching staff if they believe Kennedy can evolve with top-six players, especially on this team. If they can't see the limitations of Kennedy, and I don't even mean physically, I'd have immediate concerns over the direction of the club.

And need I remind people reading this post, that I've been of Kennedy's biggest supporters since he's been here...but understanding his limitations are crucial.

Yeah I'm one of the biggest tk fans on here too, and I think the best thing I can say is that he looked good with Sid for a tiny sample size. He is what he is, and that's a pretty good energy guy who has a bit of offense, and can fill in top 6 in a pinch.

Someone has to play in that top-6 spot. Might as well give everyone a shot, Kennedy included. It may end up being a flavor of the week thing for Malkin's winger. Some of Tangradi, some of Kennedy, some of Bennett, some of MacIntyre...

pcm wrote:Rookies... We finally get to get a glimpse of Shero's prospects getting on the NHL ice.

Who do you have in mind?

All of them; any of them. Tangradi, Bennett, Despres, Morrow, Bortuzzo, Dumoulin, Menga if healthy, etc. All these duys on the cusp. Not that I'm speculating who will and won't make the team. Rather, I'm excited to see during the course of the season the next crop of talent get a shot to stick around, for however many games.

the lesser of the evils is the name of game for that last top 6 spot. kennedy isn't suited for it. cooke isn't either. the last time we saw jeffery, he was buttzilla. tangradi hasn't shown any qualifications in the NHL and bennett isn't anything yet. so if the season starts with kennedy on that role, it's no cause for outrage. he was good with crosby when they played together for 5 minutes last year, at least.